Saturday, August 29, 2015

Recently I was walking and
talking with my co-worker, who happens to be a freelance writer and aspiring
journalist. We were talking about the fact that our employers were providing us
with a Thanksgiving lunch the day after Thanksgiving, and she said, “It’s so
ironic!’’ – all emphasis and drawing-out of syllables possible used on the last
word.

This is a smart girl I’m talking
about. She’s a college graduate and has done her fair share of writing and
reporting. And even so, she doesn’t know the definition of irony.

Merriam-Webster defines irony
as:

1: a pretense of ignorance and
of willingness to learn from another assumed in order to make the other’s false
conceptions conspicuous by adroit questioning —called also Socratic irony

2: a) the use of words to
express something other than and especially the opposite of the literal meaning

b) a usually humorous or
sardonic literary style or form characterized by irony

c) an ironic expression or
utterance

3: a) : incongruity between the
actual result of a sequence of events and the normal or expected result; an
event or result marked by such incongruity

b) incongruity between a
situation developed in a drama and the accompanying words or actions that is
understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play —called also
dramatic irony, tragic irony

A simple way of putting it is
that irony usually signals a difference between the appearance of things and
reality. For instance, here is how Wikipedia
defines it: “Ironic statements (verbal irony) often convey a meaning exactly
opposite from their literal meaning. In ironic situations (situational irony),
actions often have an effect exactly opposite from what is intended.”

Confusion is such that there is
even a website, IsItIronic.com, where you
can post your own question about whether or not something is ironic. Readers
will cast their own vote – you can see the percentages of the votes – and the
website will provide the final yes or no verdict.

Here are some examples of irony
(or the lack of):

Is it ironic that I posted a
video about how boring and useless Facebook is on Facebook?
Reader’s Verdict: 93% NOT IRONIC; 7% IRONIC. Final Verdict: NOT IRONIC.

Is it ironic that the name of
Britain’s biggest dog (until it died recently) was Tiny?
Reader’s Verdict: 75% IRONIC; 25% NOT IRONIC. Final Verdict: IRONIC.

Is it ironic that I can’t go
to church because I have a theology test to study for?
Reader’s Verdict: 95% NOT IRONIC; 5% IRONIC. Final Verdict: NOT IRONIC.

Is it ironic that someone
steps into a puddle and you make fun of them… and the next thing you know – YOU
step in one!?
Reader’s Verdict: 94% IRONIC; 6% NOT IRONIC. Final Verdict: IRONIC.

Has Alanis Morissette spoiled
irony for us forever? Perhaps my generation is just in recovery from her 1995
lyrics. What do you think – do you understand the meaning of irony? Do people
around you?

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

If you're
planning on writing nonfiction, then the first question you have to ask is
whether or not you think yourself capable of embarking on this trying yet
rewarding journey. With general non-fiction, there will always be space for a
good new non-fiction book in the market. So, what makes a non-fiction book a
best seller? Firstly, your book should be able to attract a considerable amount
of readers; it has to be something that is new and interesting, preferably a
topic that no one else has broached. Or, if you're writing on a topic that
isn't new, then you should come up something that's new and interesting to
contribute to the whole concept.

So, why write non-fiction? Having your own non-fiction book published still
holds a certain distinction and people generally associate a book author as
someone who is an expert on the subject. If used the right way, your book can
act as a helpful PR tool. But, don't ever make the mistake of thinking that you
can retire to the Caribbean's on the proceeds of its sales.

Here are a few tips on how to become a best selling author:

* Choose a good title for your book - The title is one of the most important
aspects for marketing your book. With non-fiction books, like every other form
of marketing communication, the title of the book has to suggest some kind of
benefit to its readers. It's the title that draws everyone's attention to the
book, whether it is placed in a bookstore or whether it is available online.
So, make sure you come up with something that's catchy and interesting.
Sub-headings are also very fashionable and work quite well.

* Writing your own book - If writing your first book seems like a daunting
prospect, then you should probably approach this task in a methodical manner.
Don't think of your book as a tough project. Think of it as a fun activity. As
you start working through the book, you will get a stronger sense of
achievement, as the completion of each chapter will seem like you've overcome a
major milestone.

* Planning
the book - While planning the outline of the book, never rush it. Carry a
notepad around with you so that you can jot down little ideas and other forms
of inspiration. With non-fiction, it always helps to work to a closely defined
structure. Spend time planning the chapters and make sure they all run in the
right order. If you need research material, you must first assemble it and then
file it under each chapter.

* Write it up - Now that all your work is done, you need to take the plunge and
get started. Since you have mapped out the subject matter carefully, you'll
find it easier to start writing. Your job comes down to linking and smoothing
out the plot, rather than having to think of what the next chapter will
contain. Once you've finished your final chapter, take some time off from the
writing project. Go through your work and make the necessary changes.

In reality, most publishers don't really do a good job of marketing books. This
can be really annoying when you consider that they take the lion's share of the
proceeds from the sales. So, you have two choices for effective marketing of
your book:

* Hire a good publicist - This is quite a popular option amongst the famous
public speakers and business gurus who don't have the time but have the money
to get the job done.

* DIY - Do it yourself! You can market your book without really spending a lot
of money.

So, whether you're writing career books or you are writing memoirs, these few
marketing and writing techniques should go a long way in helping your writing
career get kick started. So, if it's a bestseller status that you're looking
out for, remember that it isn't too hard to get. With the right methods and the
right style of writing, your first no-fiction book should be a blooming
success. The New York Bestseller List couldn't ask for more!

About the Author:
Jason Oman is the author of #1 best-selling Conversations with Millionaires. As
well as being the President of Money Systems Technologies, a marketing firm
that focuses on book marketing, author publicity and writing resources. Jason
is an author's strategist specializing in helping clients achieve their goals
of becoming a best selling author.

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About Me

An enthusiastic instructor and writer, I spend my time freelancing as both. I teach book writing as well as all aspects of graphic design. I love to teach and I very much enjoy writing and creating books.